Watch: Final score 2-0, Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha linked up well in the first half to give Barca the early lead.
Barcelona defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena to cap off their 2022 American trip and maintain their perfect preseason record.
The Blaugrana dominated the whole game and easily could have scored six or seven goals on another night, but they were forced to accept a two-goal victory to keep their winning streak going in the buildup to the new season.
FIRST HALF
Barça completely dominated the first 45 minutes, controlling all of the ball and finding openings even with the hosts’ five-man defense. Despite having an unstoppable front three in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ousmane Dembélé, Barça was unable to find the back of the net.
Lewandowski, who was obviously eager to score his first goal for the Blaugrana, blasted shots at will but either missed the mark or saw Carlos Miguel block them. Dembélé and Raphinha also had opportunities, but the Red Bulls defense consistently found a way to stop the ball from going in.
It took 40 minutes for the game to eventually end in a goal, which was scored in exquisite style by Dembélé after a well-planned counterattack that featured a flawless assist from Raphinha.
A dominant Barça should have led by at least three or four goals at the break, but the score was just one, and there was still work to be done.
SECOND HALF
The final frame played out very much like the first, with Barça entirely in control and producing opportunity after opportunity but failing to score.
There were numerous opportunities for Lewandowski, Aubameyang, Ansu Fati, and others, but it was just one of those nights when the shot just wouldn’t fall.
With Barca still maintaining a slim advantage going into the final ten minutes, it appeared that the game would end quite quietly. However, Red Bulls were reduced to 10 men when Daniel Edelman received a straight red card for an improper challenge on Pablo Torre.
Due to a poor play by the Red Bulls defense, which left the home team wide open, Memphis Depay finally scored the second goal for Barça, finishing the game with a tap-in.
On a night when the score could have easily been 7-0 with better finishing and a little bit more luck in front of goal, the final whistle blew to maintain Barça unblemished in preseason.
The team performed admirably once more, and the new additions seem more and more at ease. As we enter the new season, there are many encouraging indicators.
🚀⚽️ pic.twitter.com/LwDyxO0ikl
— FCB World (@forcabarca_ar) July 31, 2022
RBNY 1st Half: Miguel; Reyes, Nealis, Long; Harper, Yearwood, Cásseres, Tolkin; Luquinhas, Klimala, Morgan
RBNY 2nd Half: Meara; Edelman, Ndam, Nealis; Cummings, Sserwada, Amaya, Ofori (Ryan 72’); Barlow, Clark, Fernandez
Goals: None
Red Card: Edelman (82’)
Barcelona: Ter Stegen (Peña 72’); Araujo (Roberto 46’), Christensen (Piqué 46’), Eric (Nico 61’), Alba (Balde 61’); De Jong (Kessie 46’), Busquets (Pjanic 61’), Gavi (Pedri 46’ (Casadó 77’); Dembélé (Fati 46’), Lewandowski (Memphis 72’), Raphinha (Aubameyang 61’)
Goals: Dembélé (40’), Memphis (87’)
Gooool de Memphis!!! pic.twitter.com/2SA5kIwi0v
— FCBSeny (@FCBseny) July 31, 2022
